Debacle carries big implications for farmers
Councils must operate in a professional and efficient manner. This is what ratepayers have paid for. Poulson, who has done fantastic work around trade for our products and helping secure agreements around the world.
I wish both the greatest success going forward.
The by-election for the East Coast Maori seat of Ikaroa-Rawhiti was, I believe, an interesting precursor of what we can expect heading into the general election next year.
As we all will see in 2014, the different parties were all telling people their different messages in order to win the hearts and minds of potential voters.
Taking a subjective view, much of what was said would result in conflicting outcomes.
A prime example was debate around workplace drug testing being an invasion of privacy. The reality is that it is a means of improving safety in potentially dangerous industries such as farming, or forestry.
Five years ago forestry was held up as the role model for primary industries, but safety gains seem to have been shortlived.
My feeling is that corporate interests are only interested in production units and the bottom line on the balance sheet, not the potential effects on workers. This puts people under pressure to focus on production levels rather than on issues such as operating a safe and healthy workplace.
We must ensure the New Zealand forestry industry, and other potentially hazardous industries, receive the income needed to support, create and enforce healthy work environments.
Contrary to urban myths, if we do not have financially viable industries, whether forestry or farming, there will be no prosperity in New Zealand.
James Houghton is Waikato Federated Farmers provincial president.